By unanimous
approval from the Porter County Election Board, early voting will begin in
Porter County on Tuesday, April 8.

The board on
Tuesday voted to keep the three satellite locations already established for
2012 elections.

Voters can partake
in walk-in absentee voting at the Porter County Administration Center (155
Indiana Ave., Valparaiso); the North County Government Complex (3560
Willowcreek Rd. in Portage); and the Chesterton Town Hall (726 Broadway).

Hours for the
Valparaiso location will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. while the Portage and
Chesterton locations will be open from 8:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday.

This year, all
three locations will be open the two Saturdays, April 26 and May 3, before
the election from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Early voting ends
at noon on Monday, May 5 at all locations.

The board also
voted to allow 16 and 17 year-old high school students to work as poll
clerks and judges. Directors in the Voters Registration Office Kathy
Kozuszek and Sundae Schoon said students will need written permission from
their parents and school in order to participate. Students must have a “B”
average in order to be eligible, Kozuszek said.

Voters registration
is open now and the deadline to be registered to vote in the May 6 primary
election is Monday, April 7. Seventeen-year-olds can register if they will
be 18 years-of-age on or before the 2014 General Elections on Nov. 4.

Registering to vote
can be done at the County Voters Registration Office at 155 Indiana Ave.,
Room 105, or online at